Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Residents prevail in Mauldin city zoning fight

A proposal to change zoning on auto dealerships and repair shops has Mauldin residents firing back, with 200 people showing up to Monday's city council meeting. WYFF News 4's John Lyon reports.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 11:28 PM EDT Apr 18, 2016

Residents prevail in Mauldin city zoning fight

A proposal to change zoning on auto dealerships and repair shops has Mauldin residents firing back, with 200 people showing up to Monday's city council meeting. WYFF News 4's John Lyon reports.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 11:28 PM EDT Apr 18, 2016

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT MAULDIN'S TRYING TO PUT THE BRAKES ON ADDITIONAL AUTO DEALERSHIPS AND REPAIRS SHOPS ON MAIN STREET. MICHAEL: BUT, AS WYFF NEWS 4'S JOHN LYON REPORTS, OPPOSITION TO LAND USE RESTRICTIONS REVVED UP OPPOSITION BY CAR BUSINESSES, AND IT WAS LED BY ONE OF THE OLDEST BUSINESSES IN THE CITY. JOHN: KELLETT'S KORNER HAS BEEN FIXING CARS IN MAULDIN FOR OVER 62 YEARS. >> WE FEEL LIKE THAT WE'VE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF MAULDIN, OF THEIR PAST AND HOPEFULLY, OF THEIR FUTURE. JOHN: ROBBY KELLETT WASN'T HAPPY WHEN HE HEARD THE CITY'S PLAN, PUTTING HIS REPAIR SHOP AND OTHERS ALONG MAIN STREET IN THE CROSSHAIRS. >> IT'S A BACK-DOOR WAY FOR THE CITY TO OBTAIN PROPERTY, EITHER BY DEVALUING IT, DEVALUING THE BUSINESSES, OR JUST OUTRIGHT TAKING IT. JOHN: THE CITY WANTS TO MAKE MAIN STREET, U.S. 276, MORE ATTRACTIVE TO NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND KEEPING NEW AUTO DEALERS AND REPAIR SHOPS OUT OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WAS THEIR WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. >> WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS NOT TO DISRUPT ANY BUSINESS, NOT TO DEPRECIATE THE VALUE OF ANY BUSINESS, AND JUST TO TRY TO CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIORNMENT FOR THE CITY OVERALL. JOHN: TONIGHT, A PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE CAME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCI >> IT MAKES US FEEL LIKE YOU , SAID, INFERIOR. JOHN: AND SO DID 200 REVVED UP MECHANICS, SHOP OWNERS, CAR DEALERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. >> IT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE AWAY, AND REPLACE THEM WITH A MORE DESIRABLE PERSON. >> IT'S A FINANCIAL TRAINWRECK FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THERE. JOHN: THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR FOR -- ENOUGH FOR THE COUNCIL TO HEAR VOTING TO HAVE THE , ORDINANCE HIT THE ROAD. >> WE WANT TO KNOW, TO BE IN THE KNOW, BASICALLY. WHEN THERE IS A PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE, JUST COME TO US, AND LET US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. TRANSPARENCY IN OUR GOVERNMENT. JOHN: WITH THE VICTORY TONIGHT, THE AUTO RETAILERS SAY THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO BRING A VARIETY OF BUSINESS

Residents prevail in Mauldin city zoning fight

A proposal to change zoning on auto dealerships and repair shops has Mauldin residents firing back, with 200 people showing up to Monday's city council meeting. WYFF News 4's John Lyon reports.